Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-03
w ashing tOn.
by DR.. F. B. Robinson.J

We SO seldom even think of it as d COM
mercial or manufacturing center. 1t has
none. 1t always has been, and it is
now, a governmental machine with
political tendencies whose color varies
with majority of votes cast in the United
States. Yet it is an interesting locality
for the great of our country, have all
had some association with this city of
magnificent distances" Every cele-
brated statesman has been connected
by office, plans, joke or romance to this
hub of the United States. One can
walk the pavements of the Capitol or
the broad avenues of the street with
memories Of old Jeffersonian simplicity
or modern Californian millionaire Off
Gals What variety of life has the
inhabitants Of this city seen. The
Government moved it's place of business
from Philadelphia in 1900 Major L En-
FAINT was then a recognized Architect and
civil engineer He was fairly well
known throughout the county, had been
a revolutionary soldier, and was in fine
favor with Washington at the time the
city was plated. Major L Enfant seems
to have shown Washington his shrewd-
list sagacity when he suggested in his
plat of the future city that the Capitol
and executive mansion should be mile
and quarter apart SO that it would
check the Congressman and other
officials in making too many friendly
calls on the President while resting in
the serenity of the "White house
mansion" Many architects followed
Major l. Enfant but nearly al, like him,
becoming in i'll favor with succeeding
commissioners had their heads officia-
ally cut off, Each commission of build
ing thought they could present the best
architect and thus the changes. In
those days much of the style and
ornament of the Capitol was due to
Jefferson who supervised it in his own
person.
Jefferson was very simple in his man
ner of living. Though he had seen the
Kings aud Queens of Europe with all
their pomp of equipage and the red
tape dash of royalty, these things did
not move him in his simple manners
and rustic life. When he was elected
President he was the least commercial
of all men. He rode his horse down to
the capitol, dismounted, tied him, went
in and delivered his FIFTEEN minute
inaugural and departed as simple as he
came, to the establishment of the by
ISLANDERS. Inaugural addresses are now
about two hours long with a dozen
thousand words. But the bigger the
country the bigger the inaugural of
course. How long, Oh! how long will
they be when Canada is annexed.
Jefferson was very rare combination
of man. He was very learned and at
the same time very practical, such ex-
cellent combinations exist as rarely
among men as the births of Websters
or Franklins. He commanded immense
fees as a lawyer with increasing power
as man.
His high fees were only equaled in
modern days by the enormous fees of
Conklin and Trumbul. He imported
italian sculptors to ornament the capt.
toll and would dictate to them himself
Jefferson called the senate to order 81
years ago with only 80 senators, now we
have rs. Then congressman were oblig-
ed to lodge in Georgetown and ride over
on horse back or the stage, as the city
had no hotels or boarding houses. At
this time Ben Perley Poore says, that
near the Senate was barber shop
containing wigs which some of the
barber shop in the morning and ex-
change the unke:npt wig for one they
had left the night before to be combed
and powdered, oiled and brushed for
tells US that the most excentric man and
debater was John Randolph. He
dressed in Virginia home-spun. He
wore his pants in pair of high white
OoppCd UOOio, Will puIo lIdb JAISISu
as he walked through the senate. He
had several dogs with him at his desk.
He wore fur cap and carried cane
when he entered the senate in the
above style, as he road from his board
ing house in Georgetown, he would
listen to the debate and if he had any
interest would Jump up and speak at
the first opportunity. His language as
all know was sarcastic and witty. He
was a brilliant man and made effective,
humorous debates. He was very
often at swords point with his colleagues
from his imperious and stubborn dis
position. He was impatient and could
not stand much Interruptions. At one
time Beecher, of Ohio, attempted to
stop him debating by moving ''the
previous question" Beecher tried it
three or four times when Randolph
patience gave out and he said ''Mr.
Speaker, in the Netherlands man of
small capacity with bits of wood and